Electric sign



Sept. 6, 1938. A. VARKONDA 2,129,595

ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Aug. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 6, 1938. VARKONDA 2,129,595

ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Aug. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WZQZ E lnm mluwi E i 27 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 2,129,595

ELECTRIC? SIGN Andrew Varkonda, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 23, 1937, Serial No. 160,522

3 Claims. (01. 40-130) This invention relates to devices for displayposing view-points. In this instance, each part ing characters in opposite directions and more of the character is formed of an open faced particularly to luminous signs of the rotary type. channel structure having vertically extending One object of this invention is to provide a portions I3 and I 4 and diagonally extending luminous sign of the rotary type. Another obparts l5 and Hi. In this instance the luminous ject of this invention is to providean improved means comprises a gaseous discharge tube 20 device for displaying characters in opposite direcwhich is secured at one end 2| by a gas tight joint tions. A further object of this invention is to to the terminal member 22. The tube extends provide means for displaying characters in such into the lower portion 23 of one leg of the letter a manner as to be visible practically simultane- M, continues upwardly through the part I4, ously and continuously at all points of the horidownwardly through the part l6, upwardly 2011. Another object is toprovide a device for through the angularly extending part l5 and displaying the same characters simultaneously downwardly through the other vertical leg I3. from opposite view-points. Other objects and The tube then extends out of the bottom 24 of advantages of this invention will appear from the the leg l3 and winds around the shaft I2 as at 15 following description when taken in connection 25 and then enters the bottom 26 of leg 2'! exwith the accompanying drawings. tending upwardly through that leg downwardly In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of a through the diagonal section l9 and then again device embodying features of this invention. upwardly through the section I8 and down- Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. wardly through the leg I! of the second letter 20 4 is a partial section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1. M. The tube then leaves the bottom 28 of the Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 5-5 in Fig. leg I! and the angularly extending portion 28 is 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view on the line 6-45 in Fig. 1. sealed into the terminal member 30.

Fig. '7 is a transverse cross section on the line Instead of using a luminous tube it is equally '|--'l of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a feasible to use a plurality of individual lamps large sign incorporating features of this invenconnected to provide the necessary illumination tion. for'the sign; It is'also within the contemplation Considering the drawings in greater detail, the of this invention that where a multiplicity of invention contemplates a device for displaying characters are used that the continuous tube characters in opposite directions comprising one may extend from the single set of terminals or more characters secured on a rotatable shaft throughout the entire sign as shown in Fig. 8. If each character being in two parts with each part desirable or necessary, the sign can be composed secured on the opposite side of the shaft and of a plurality of individual characters which can arranged to represent each character from at be assembled on a shaft to make a composite sign.

least two opposing view-points, and luminous In such a case, a plurality of slip rings may be 35 means formed to illuminate simultaneously both necessary to supply the current tothe luminous parts of each character with each character devices. being so arranged as to obscure from one view- The parts of the character are arranged to point those portions of the luminous means not blank out those portions of the luminous means required to display the respective character from which are not needed for representing the char- 40 that viewpoint. The device is so arranged that acter from one view-point. The portions 2|, 25 the characters actually will only be visible from and 29 of the continuous tubing will also be coated opposed view-points, but for all practical purwith black paint or obscured from view. poses, and in accordance with continuity of The entire structure as heretofore described is vision, the sign will appear to be displayed so as supported on the Shaft With the i a me 45 to be visible simultaneously and continuously b s 22 and 30 being Carried y the disc member from all points of the horizon, 3|. The terminals, disc, and shaft are provided In Fig. l a portion of the sign is illustrated with the necessary insulation to keep the elecusing one character for the purpose of descriptrical circuit separate and distinct.

tion. In this connection the device for display- Where a sin le har er is bein used in the 50 mg characters in opposite directions comprises S S t l2 m y b directly driven and ta d the single character M which is in two parts by a low-speed motor 32 by having the shaft 33 I0 and II respectively, each part secured. on of the latter and the shaft l2 secured in a couopposite sides of the rotatable shaft I 2 and arpling member 34 by the set screws 35 and 36.

ranged to represent the character from two op- Where the sign is especially large or heavy a more 55 powerful motor may be used and a gear train connected between the motor and the shaft l2, schematically illustrated in Fig. 8, by the bevel gears 38 and 39, which provide the mechanical connection between the motor 32 and the shaft l2.

For the purpose of supplying the electrical energy tothe luminous means, which as heretofore mentioned represents a continuous gaseous discharge tube or a series of electric lamps, the terminals 22 and 30 are connected toan appropriate electrical collector. In this instance, the collector is formed by two concentric rings 40 and 4| which are rigidly mounted on the shaft l2 and insulated from each other by means of the insulating bushing 42, the latter being substantially L shaped in cross section.

Terminal 30 is connected to the upper surface 43 of the ring 4| by means of the electrical connection 44. The terminal 22 is connected by a similar electrical connection comprising lead 45 which is secured to the upper surface 46 of the ring 40. A source of power 41, is connected to the primary 48 of a transformer 49, the secondary 50 of which is connected by leads 5| and 52 to the brushes 53 and 54. The respective brush holders 55 and 56 are insulated from the rough or other structure 51 by means of the insulating box 58 and 59. In this manner, the power from the secondary 50 of the transformer is carried by the conductors and thence to the terminals of the luminous tube thereby providing the necessary illumination.

In Fig. 8 the luminous device is schematically illustrated as being composed of the letters A to G inclusive with a tube extending from the terminal 22 to the terminal 30' and passing through all of the letters. The interconnecting parts of the tubing which are obscured from both viewpoints such as at the points 2!, 25, and 28 in Fig. 1 are indicated in this figure at the points 60, BI and 62.

It will be readily understood that a sign of considerable merit has been described which is relatively simple to fabricate and which will be highly efiicient in use.

Variations within the true spirit and scope of this invention are to be determined by the hereto appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A sign comprising a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a pair of oppositely facing characters, means engaging said shaft and said characters fixedly securing said characters on said shaft in substantially parallel relation with one character extending in a direction opposite from the other character, a plate fixed to said shaft, terminal members carried by said plate, illuminating means connected to said terminal members and extending across a face of each character, a pair of collector rings carried by said shaft, means connecting a ring to a terminal member, a wiper engaging each ring, and means connecting said wipers to a source of electric current supply.

2. A sign comprising a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a pair of oppositely facing flanged characters, means engaging said shaft and said characters fixedly securing said characters on said shaft in substantially parallel relation with one character extending in a direction opposite from the other character, a plate fixed to said shaft, terminal members carried by said plate, illuminating means connected to said terminal members and disposed between the flanges of said characters, a pair of collector rings carried by said shaft, means connecting a ring to a terminal member, a wiper engaging each ring, and means connecting said wipers to a source of electric current supply.

3. A sign comprising a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a pair of op ositely facing flanged characters, means engaging said shaft and saidcharacters fixedly securing said characters on said shaft in substantially parallel relation with one character extending in a direction opposite from the other character, a plate fixed to said shaft, terminal members carried by said plate, gaseous illuminating means connected to said terminal members and disposed between the flanges of said characters, a pair of collector rings'carried by said shaft, means connecting a ring to a terminal member, a wiper engaging each ring, and means connecting said wipers to a source of electric current supply.

ANDREW VARKONDA. 

